Adjustable machine control plate



H. R. BRAND ADJUSTABLE MACHINE CONTROL PLATE Jan. 2, 1951 -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1947 fig.2.

QIQDEIQ PLATE COMMODITY NUMBER QUANTITY O ROUTING.

INVENTOR. HARRY RUSSELL BRAND BY M Jan- 2, 1951 H. R. BRAND 2,536,155

ADJUSTABLE MACHINE CONTROL PLATE Filed Aug. 4, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ODDEIQ PLATE COMMODITY NUMBER QUANTITY 0 ROUTING i 7 9/ lNvENToxz may RUSSELL 5 m;

Jan. 2, 1951 H. R. BRAND ADJUSTABLE MACHINE CONTROL PLATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 4, 1947 INVENTOR. AMPQY 205551.; BEA/VD Patented Jan. 2,

ADJUSTABLE MACHINE CONTROL-PLATE Harry Russell Brand, New York, N. .Y.,. assignmto Emily Mary Ann Brand, New York, N. Y.

' Application August4,1947, Serial No. 766,123.

This device relates to an order plate which may set with certain code numbersand which thereafter can be used as a part of an ordering system to transmit-the message corresponding to the code.

i IjThe machine isdesigned primarily for use with in order'ng system such as is described in my copending application Ser. No. 705,137, filed ctober 23, 1946 and now abandoned. Such a sys- -.tem is intended for use in the automatic dispensing of items from stock in accordance with a code number, and it consists prjmarily of a "selector system'which will be actuated in accord- ;ance with the setting of the order plate to selec't a circuit corresponding t'o-the item ordered, and'..automatically signal to cause the dispensing, or to dispense-a un'itof that item.

--Itis an-object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which will be easy to set, which will retain its setting untl fthat setting is positively brought back,- and which can actuate the ordering system with a minimum (if-trouble.

1 The invention accordingly comprises" an article of manufacture possessing the features, proper- Zlj'ig. ,3 is an exploded view of the elements comprising a single dial. Fig- 4 's an assembly of such a. dial. .Fig. :5 is a. view similar to'iFig. l of a modification. Fig. .6 isa section on the line of Fig. 5*. Fig. .7 is a diagrammatic view showing the use of such a device in an ordering system. Fig. 8 is a dagrammatic perspective view of the mechanism with which the device Isiintended to be operated.

.In the drawings, the numeral .lli (Fig. 1) shows that plate having a plurality of bearing holes H there'n, arranged in rows and columns. Each hole II is surrounded on one face by a counter bored surface l2 toreceive'the disc l3, flush with the surface of the plate. Each disc l3 has a stem 14 to extend through bearing hole II, which 'ttemfhas a." shoulder (5' Each bearing hole ll :lsalso surrounded on the other face by a counter bored surface 16 to receive a spring washer ll,

8 Claims- (Cl. 235-'-'6L12,).

and a fixed washer-l8, which may fit upon-the shoulder [5 upon stem [4 to hold the partsin place. A pluralityof indicating holes 20' are symmetrically and concentrically arranged about the hole ll, seven being here shown for each bearing hole l i that is for-each dial.

The discs l3 comprise the dials and eachis provided with a hole H in alignment with one of the indicating holes 20, and the disc is cut away at 22 adjacent to hole 2! to expose a por tion of the surface 12, upon which a code digit 23 may be embossed. Thus as the dial is rotated each indicating hole '20 and its corresponding code digit will be exposed in turn. Partly pressed out portions '24 may be provided in the dials, in

alignment with other indicating holes 28 so as to serve as resilient stops to hold the dials at any setting.

Anirregular central opening 25 is made in the stem 14 to receive a'matin'g key 26 by which-the dials may be set. As shown, this openingand key are square.

The several dials l3 in any row are intended to be set 'so that the exposed diglts represent the code number of the item to be-ordered, or if des'red the first four digitsmay designate'th code number-and the fifth-the-number of units of that item which the customer desires.

Upon a diilerent portion of the plate is ar ranged another dial till-similar in construction to the dials l3, which may be used to determine the routing of the order. This dial 30 is so situated or so-connected that it will not in} terfere with the detecting mechanism employed for the first set of dials. To tins end it may be placed in a sixth column. I prefer, however, to place it on the bottom portion of the order plate, and to -ccmple it with mechanism which will cause a different detecting mechanism to re spend I i The dscs and dials shown in Figs. 5 to 7' are similar in function, but the dials are made of plates having a diametrically placed squeezed up flange 3| serving as a handle-'bywhlch to turn the dial,- and'the'dials are p.voted'upon a hollow rivet 32. I

In the order system disclosed in Fig. 8 there isshown diagrammatically the cooperation of the order plate with the various mechanisms-it is designed to control.

The numeral designates a frame slidable upon guides 35 depending from a table 31 haw ing a slot'38 through which the plate '10 may;

be inserted. The-frame is so situated as tO 'Stlf);

port the plate when the latter is inverted in the slot, and is provided with mechanism not here shown but disclosed in the copending application herein referred to for lowering the plate step by step to bring each row of dials in re istry with a detecting mechanism in sequence.

The detecting mechanism, also shown in detail in the companion case, for selecting the items comprises primarily a head 40 movable toward and from the plate and carrying a spring pressed pin 4| in alignment with each indicating hole 20. as to move all the pins against the plate. Only that pin in registry with the opening 2| can pass through, to operate a contact pair 42 on the other side of the plate. All other pins yield when they The motion of the head is such.

encounter the imperforate portions of disc l3.

The contact pair 42 closes a circuit 43. There is one such contact pair and circuit for each indicating hole 28, so that the setting of the dials of a row will determine what particular group of circuits 43 will beclosed.

The circuits 43 are connected and coordinated to order individual items through the medium of a selector system or relays 44, 45, 46, also shown in the copending application and here shown only in diagram. These relays combine to close a circuit 48-to a solenoid 41 of an item releasing system as disclosed in the copending application filed June 20, 1947, Serial No. 455,934, now abandoned. The dial l3 in the fifth column closes a circuit to one of several repeat mechanisms 49, there being one such mechanism if two of an item are to be delivered, a second to deliver three, a third to deliver four, etc. Such repeat mechanisms are disclosed in detail in the copending application, .Serial No. 705,137 above referred to. Each consists primarily of a solenoid 50 connected to actuate a ratchet wheel 5| which drives a disc 52, one ratchet tooth for each actuation of solenoid 50.

The disc 52 has recesses 53 in its periphery, spaced from each other by an angle equal to the angle subtended by a number of ratchet teeth 5 equal to the number of items to be ordered by this particular repeat mechanism. In the drawing there are two ratchet teeth for each recess,'so that the mechanism will order two units of an item.

j A contact pair 54 is arranged to be connected in the circuit with the step by step moving mechanism of frame 35, and, as shown, this contact pair is spring pressed closed, and is opened by a rod 55, having a roller 56 rolling on the periphery of disc 52; the construction being such that when the roller is on the high portion of the disc the contact 54 is open and the step by step mechanism will not operate, but when the roller falls into a recess, contact is made at 54 and the step by step mechanism will be actuated by its own controls. I

The routing disc 30 has also a similar detector mechanism adapted to close circuit through one or another of a group of relays 51, only one of which is here shown, each of which controls the passage of the delivered item to a selected destination; controlling of all the elements necessary to that end. All these'are diagrammatically represented by wire 62 here diagrammatically indicated by the wires 58.

1 Where, as in the'form illustrated, the routing disc is in alignment with the path of the other dials, it is necessary to insure that the item selecting detectors shall notbe actuated by the rout- 4 ing dial, and that the routing selector shall not be actuated by the item detectors. To accomplish this result, there may be mounted in circuit with the detector operating mechanism a contact switch 59 which will disconnect the routing detector, except when this detector is in alignment with the routing switch.

The exact mechanism for operating the step by step mechanism, the repeat mechanism and the detector mechanisms is not specifically here shown, as it forms no direct part of this invention and it is disclosed in the patent applications above referred to. As illustrated, the switch 59 is operated by an arm 60 in position to be engaged by the head to close switch 59 when the head has reached a position to bring the routing dial into alignment with the routing detector.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope'of the invention which as a matter of language migh be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. An ordering device comprising a fiat plate, a plurality of rows of discs pivoted upon said plate, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced indicating holes surrounding the pivot of each disc and said disc having an opening adapted to be brought into registry with any one Of said indicating holes, by rotation of said disc, said plate having a number thereon corresponding to each of said holes and a window in said disc adapted to be brought into registryto expose each number to view when said opening is brought into registry with the correspondin hole.

2. An ordering device comprising a flat plate, a plurality of rows of discs pivoted upon said plate, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced indicating holes surrounding the pivot of each disc and said disc having an opening in position to be brought into registry with any one of said indicating holes by rotation of said disc, said plate having a number thereon corresponding to each of said holes and a window in said disc adapted to be brought into registry to exposeeach number to view as the corresponding opening is brought into registry with one of said holes, said disc having an outwardly extending fold along one diameter to serve as a handle for setting it.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 having a peripheral rim, the faces of which define planes, between which all other elements of said plate and discs are confined.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 adapted to be set by a key, in which each disc is provided with a non-circular opening adapted to cooperate with the key, by which the disc may be turned, to set it. 5. An ordering device comprising a fiat plate having a plurality of rows of counter-bored bear ing holes upon one side thereof, a disc pivoted in each of said counter-bores, said discs having'a thickness not greater than the depth of the counter bore, a plurality of indicating holes in said plate circumferentially spaced beneath said discs, and an opening in said disc adapted to be brought into alignment with each of said indicating holes in succession, said discs each having a non-circular opening in the center and being constructed and arranged to be rotatable by a key. a

6. A device in accordance with claim 1 having a separate and similar rotatable disc, out of alignment with any of said rows.

7. An ordering device comprising in combination a plate having a settable means thereon, settable in accordance with a code, an ordering system adapted to be operated by said plate to transmit an order signal in response to the setting of said plate, said settable means comprising a plurality of rows of discs pivoted to said plate and an additional disc out of alignment with said rows, said plate having a plurality of indicating holes therein circumferentially spaced around the pivot of each said disc beneath said disc, each of said discs having an opening therein in position to be brought into registry with one of said indicating holes, said ordering system including a feeler responsive to the particular setting of each of said discs in any row, a circuit selector system operated by said feeler for ordering a specific item, a second feeler responsive to the setting of said other disc, and means operated by said other feeler for determining the destination of 3 the item.

8. An ordering device comprising a fiat plate,

a plurality of rows of discs pivoted upon said plate and resiliently held against it, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced indicating holes surrounding the pivot of each disc and said disc having an opening adapted to be brought into registry with any one of said holes by rotation of said disc, said disc having a number thereon corresponding to each of said holes and said disc having a window adapted to be brought into registry to expose any number to view when said opening is in registry with the corresponding hole, and a projection upon the underside of said disc in position to engage one of the holes in said plate when the opening is in registry with another indicating hole in the plate, whereby the plate is resiliently retained in a given setting.

HARRY RUSSELL BRAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 291,349 Hyatt Jan. 1, 1884 1,131,314 Bedell Mar. 9, 1915 1,502,662 Fox July 29, 1924 2,323,833 Mixer July 6, 1943 2,374,537 Goldsmith Apr. 24, 1945 

